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Thursday, June 23, 2016

Your Resume: Friend or FOE? You May Be Surprised!

By Richard Kent Matthews

If you think your resume is your top tool, think again. It may actually be a hindrance in your search for the best job....

In days of old, the resume said it all. Your work and personal history, your education, your references. That was then. You and I both know you were never 100% truthful on those pages.Perhaps a new approach is in order. Since almost everything is going online these days, maybe less emphasis on your resume and more on networking, interview rehearsal, and salesmanship.

Like it or not, you will be Googled. Turns out, you're an open book. To the world! Are all of your online profiles and playgrounds up for the scrutiny? Or are they negative dynamite? Google yourself to see what's up.I found this interesting little list in a great book by Jeremy Dillahunt called F*ck Your Resume (2016 - Sonoma Press):Top Ten Reasons Your Resume Doesn't Matter

You're probably lying, at least a little bit.

They say nothing about whether or not you'll be a good fit for the company.

You can't explain gaps in work history.

Expertise can't be distilled in just a few words.

They provide little detail and no context.

They're prone to bias.

They're formulaic.

They're static.

You can't tell a story with a resume.

It's all about you.*

The list isn't exhaustive but you get the point. Don't waste your money on expensive resume writers and services. In the event you actually need, or are asked for, a resume, you can always go online, get the templates, and do it yourself. Here's a good place to start: http://www.hloom.com/download-professional-resume-templates/

You have skills, talent, and experience. But your resume will never do you justice. Besides, 99% of all resumes end up as mulch.

Time for an online strategy. Create a LinkedIn account, hit the job boards, perhaps start a blog. And do yourself a big favor. Read F*ck Your Resume. It's an eye opener.

*Employers have been burned before, so they're wary. When you concentrate mostly on yourself and not what you can do for THEM, they turn off almost immediately.